Bella Tomsett

I am a PhD researcher at the School of Sport and Health Sciences. My reseach is looking at developing a tool which will enable health and social care practitioners to improve their identification of victims of Domestic Abuse and Modern Slavery during remote service provision (aka Telemedicine). The initial focus of my work is on Sexual and Reproductive Health services, with a view to developing recommendations around adaptation for other areas of health and social care.  Prior to commencing the PhD, I completed a Masters in Global Health at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. 

I am a registered social worker, with experience working in the statutory, private and voluntary sectors, both in community, acute hospital and specialist in-patient services, with adults, young people and children. My professional specialism is adult mental health. I am particularly passionate about empowerment, advocacy and co-production in practice. 

I am interested in research that improves the accessibility and acceptability of health and social care services, with a particular focus on marginalised and disadvantaged populations. I am especially interested in issues surrounding mental health, conflict and violence, social justice, and human rights, and their intersections with gender, race and sexuality identities.

Co-production is an important aspect of my work, and I am interesting in developing the understanding of how we value different types of knowledge, and how this can be used to silence or amplify different voices. As part of this, I am exploring researchers' use of own lived experiences in their work, and how this can be understood as a legitimate form of knowledge. 

I am also interested in social work education, and ways to support and encourage more social work practitioner-led research. 

I teach on the BSc and MSc Social Work progarmmes at the University of Brighton. I also support with assessment on modules throughout both programmes. 

Teaching Activity: 

SS738 Critical Social Work in Practice and Research - contribution to teaching (Summer, 2023)

SS430 Contemporary Social Inequaities - seminar lead (Autumn, 2023)

SS411 Experts by Experience: Identity, Needs and Resources - contribution to teaching (Autumn, 2023) 

SS791 Practice Learning 1 - contribution to teaching (Autumn, 2023)